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Depression

What is Depression?

We all feel sad from time to time.
It’s normal to feel sad in certain situations, such as when someone we know
dies or is seriously ill, or if we are having relationship difficulties or
troubles at work. If we feel low, down or sad, we sometimes say we feel
‘depressed’.

Depression, however, is more than
feeling sad. It is a clinical condition that occurs when a person experiences
at least two weeks of:

Feeling
down, sad or miserable for much of the day, and/or

Loss
of interest in pleasurable activities

What are the symptoms of depression?

A person experiencing depression
usually has at least four other symptoms over two or more weeks, such as:

Changes
in sleep patterns

Changes
in appetite or weight

Lack
of energy

Difficulties
concentrating or making decisions

Agitation
or slowing down of physical movements

Feelings
of guilt or worthlessness

Recurrent
thoughts of death

Who gets depression?

In Australia, about 1 million adults
(16-85) and 160,000 young adults (16-24) experience depression each year.
Serious depression affects around 1 in 5 women and 1 in 8 men during their
lives.

A period of depression is most
likely caused by several factors working together, such as recent stressful
events as well as long-term risk factors (e.g. genetics).

Treatment
for Depression

There are effective treatments
available for depression. For most, psychological treatments are effective. In
very severe cases this may also include medication taken under the guidance of
a medical practitioner.

CBT for depression helps you to
learn how to identify and challenge any thoughts that fuel sadness, and
learning techniques to help change behaviour.

Where
can I receive treatment for Depression?

There are a number of ways you can
access psychological treatment for depression and you can choose a way that
works best for you. This can be in-person with a mental health professional, or
online with the support of a program.

By registering, you can access Mental
Health Online’s free and comprehensive depression assessment and treatment. You
may like to do this by yourself in our self-guided option, but you can also opt
for our free therapist-assisted program via email, chat, or video.